Wilco Louw
DHL Western Province and the DHL Stormers will be losing an entire, highly rated, front row but they already have an exciting replacement trio lined up.
The three front row forwards that have brought down the curtain on their careers in the Western Cape are Pat Cilliers and Brok Harris, who are heading abroad, and Tiaan Liebenberg who has retired from the game.
However, whilst three warhorses depart Cape Town, the Stormers had already announced the signing of powerful Bulls hooker Bongi Mbonambi earlier this year, with highly-rated SA Under-20 tighthead prop Wilco Louw also making the move down to the Cape from Pretoria ahead of next year.
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On the new signings, WP Director of Rugby Gert Smal commented: “We’re excited at the prospect of Bongi playing his rugby in the Cape. We’ve tracked his progress and believe that he can reach his full potential here.
“Wilco Louw is also a big prospect and will bolster our tight five. He was a key member of the SA Under-20 team at tighthead prop this year and will be returning to the Cape to further his career and will add quality in a key position like tighthead.”
There have also been reports that WP are looking to sign Pumas prop Vincent Koch, who has the ability to play both sides of the scrum.
It has been suggested that Koch may be assessed as early as next week when WP play Saracens at Allianz Park in London.
The 24-year-old Koch was one of the stand-out performers for the Pumas in this year’s Currie Cup, where he made a successful shift from his regular loosehead prop position to the right-hand side of the scrum.
Pat Cilliers spent two seasons in the Cape and his impact was huge – both on and off the field. He played in two Currie Cup Finals for WP and, this season especially, contributed hugely to the leadership group as vice-captain.
The 27-year-old, capped six times by the Springboks, will join French Top 14 club, Montpellier – having already left for France on Monday evening.
Western Province coach Allister Coetzee paid tribute to Cilliers: “Pat battled a bit with injury when he first joined [last year], but he contributed massively in last year’s Currie Cup and, of course, this year in what was a challenging season for the Stormers, but turned into a very successful year with our Currie Cup win.
“We will certainly miss him, but we wish him and his fiance, Megan, all the best as they embark on their new adventure together in France.”
Brok Harris spent eight seasons at Western Province, having played his first provincial match in 2006 and his first Super Rugby game in 2007.
Harris will be joining Welsh club, Newport Gwent Dragons, after over 200 appearances for both the Stormers and WP combined.
“Brok epitomises what a team man is all about – he is a true Stormer in every sense of the word,” commented Coetzee.
“He played over 200 matches for us – hardly missing a training session along the way. To play 213 matches in eight seasons is a remarkable achievement and his performances this season were some of his finest in a Province jersey.
“We wish Brok, his wife Madeleine and their son Divan all the best in Wales.”
Of the trio departing WP Rugby, Liebenberg is the only one who will not be furthering his career, having been forced to hang up his boots due to a long-standing back injury which saw him play his 62nd, and final, match for Western Province against the EP Kings on August 8 in Port Elizabeth.
“Tiaan represented the union with distinction, having played his first match for WP in 2006,” said Coetzee.
“Just last year he was still captaining Western Province in the Currie Cup – he was part of our leadership team for many years.
“Tiaan made a tough decision [to hang up his boots], but with a young family at the top of his priority list, he really left his mark here and we wish him well in the next phase of his life.”
Liebenberg and Harris joined Western Province at the same time, in 2006 (the duo playing 348 matches between them).
Cilliers spent two seasons in the Cape, but coach Coetzee paid a collective tribute to the front row trio.
“All three players have left a mark one way or another and will all be missed – by the coaches, their teammates and our wonderful supporters,” he said.
“we wish them well, both on and off the field.
“Once you play for the Stormers or Western Province you will always be part of the family here.
“That’s why it’s always hard to say goodbye to a player… whether he chooses to leave to experience something new overseas, or, in Tiaan’s case, has had to retire.”